Javascript Error when using undefined variable

Question

Check this interactive Google Chrome console log:

test_1 = 'ok'
 > "ok"

test_2 = test_2 || 'ok'
 > ReferenceError: test_2 is not defined

var test_3 = test_3 || 'ok'
 > undefined

test_1
 > "ok"

test_2
 > ReferenceError: test_2 is not defined

test_3
 > "ok"

When I call test_1 = 'ok' I leave out the var constructor, but the browser still understands this. I assume it fills in with the var where I omitted, just like it fills in with semicolons.

But for test_2 = test_2 || 'ok' I get an error. I know test_2 is not defined but it doesn't keep my next example test_3 from working. For some reason the missing var statement becomes a problem.

Can somebody explain to me why the interpreter throws an error there?

JavaScript 'hoisting' also look at JavaScript Scoping and Hoisting — Givi
– Givi, Commented Jan 23, 2014 at 22:52

Kevin Ji · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-23 23:18:12Z

2

In short, hoisting.

Take the third example, that "works":

var test_3 = test_3 || 'ok'

What JavaScript actually does is the following:

var test_3;

test_3 = test_3 || 'ok';

Now that test_3 is declared, referring to test_3 simply returns undefined rather than throwing a ReferenceError, so what you're essentially doing is this:

var test_3;

test_3 = undefined || 'ok';

This isn't true with the second example, as test_2 is never declared.

edited Jan 23, 2014 at 23:18

answered Jan 23, 2014 at 22:54

Kevin Ji

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1 Comment

David Knipe Over a year ago

"This isn't true with the second example, as test_2 is never defined." You mean it's never declared.

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